Lasagna with bechamel and meat sauce

Rowena Dumlao-Giardina resides in Italy, cooking and photographing her family's interesting meals on Apron and Sneakers. After moving to Italy in 1999 from the Philippines, she has traveled extensively around the country and the rest of ...

Layers of flavor

In need of a hearty and comforting pasta dish for a cold night? This lasagna with meat sauce will warm you up in a hurry.

Layers of flavor

In need of a hearty and comforting pasta dish for a cold night? This lasagna with meat sauce will warm you up in a hurry.

Lasagna is a classic Italian dish that might take a little time to prepare but is more than worth the effort. The pasta seems to melt in your mouth and the combination of sauces and cheese is purely delectable.

Lasagna with bechamel and meat sauce recipe

Serves 4-6

Meat sauce

Ingredients:

8 ounces ground beef

8 ounces ground pork

9 ounces tomato paste

8-1/2 ounces Marsala wine

8-1/2 ounces water

8 ounces tomato puree or diced tomatoes

1 carrot, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 yellow onion, finely chopped

Olive oil

Salt

Pepper

Directions:

Mix the tomato paste, Marsala and water in a bowl. Set aside.

Saute garlic in a pan with olive oil. When it turns golden, discard. Add chopped onion and carrot. Add meat after about 3 minutes.

When meat browns, pour tomato paste mixture and tomato puree into pan. Cover. Simmer for an hour on low fire. Stir occasionally. If the sauce is too dry, add hot water. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Bechamel

Ingredients:

3 ounces butter

3 ounces flour

3 cups milk

Whole nutmeg, grated

Salt

Pepper

Directions:

Melt butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour with a whisk until thickened. Add milk and keep whisking over a very low heat.

Add grated nutmeg, salt and pepper according to taste. Remove from heat when the mixture becomes thick.

Lasagna

Ingredients:

1 package fresh or dry lasagna noodles (see tip)

Butter

Bechamel

Meat sauce

5 ounces grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Butter a baking dish (about 8 x 8-inches).

Spread a thin layer of bechamel on the bottom of the dish. Layer lasagna noodles to cover the bottom, then spread with a layer of meat sauce, another layer of bechamel and sprinkle with cheese. Repeat to make 4-5 layers, depending on your dish and amount of ingredients. End with lasagna noodles, topped with a thin layer of bechamel and a sprinkle of cheese.

Scatter some diced butter over the dish.

Bake for 30 minutes or until top part is golden. Let it cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Tip

Use as many lasagna noodles as you need to fit your baking dish. If using fresh pasta, cut to the size of the baking dish. If using dry pasta, first soften in salted boiling water then dry with a clean towel before using. Cut to size once cooked.